Matthew 25:36 - Printer Friendly

ESV: I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’

NIV: I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

NASB: naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’

CSB: I was naked and you clothed me; I was sick and you took care of me; I was in prison and you visited me.’

NLT: I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’

KJV: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

NKJV: I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’

The King of all, Jesus Christ, sits on His throne at the end of the age (Matthew 24:3). A period of great tribulation on earth has passed (Matthew 24:21–22), and He has returned. The act He depicts here involves judging people by dividing them into two groups (Matthew 25:31–33). Scholars differ on the exact scope and timing of this judgment. Opinions range from a decision about which tribulation survivors enter the millennial kingdom (Revelation 20:1–6) to a broad-level explanation of each person's eternal fate (John 3:36; 14:6).

Here, Christ is speaking to the first group. He has categorized them as "sheep," and declared them blessed (Matthew 25:34–35). He has welcomed them into a kingdom prepared for them since the beginning of the world. That reference to an eternity-past decision by God (Ephesians 1:4) implies that these are true Christians: saved believers in Christ, also known as "the elect" (Matthew 24:22; Mark 13:27; Romans 11:7; Titus 1:1).

Continuing from the prior verse, these people are said to have provided for Jesus when He was in need. They cared for Him during His times of greatest need. Naturally, the people being judged will express confusion: since this happens at the end times, most of these people will probably never have seen Jesus in person until this moment (Matthew 25:37–39). He will explain what He means as the passage continues (Matthew 25:40).

Matthew 25:31–46 describes Jesus' epic judgment, to take place when He returns as King with His angels and takes His place on the throne. He will divide those judged into two groups: "sheep" and "goats." The sheep will be welcomed and praised for serving those in need. The goats will be sent away from Jesus to eternal fire and condemned for not serving those in need. This comes at the end of the Olivet Discourse, which began when disciples asked Jesus about the end days (Matthew 24:3). This passage is notoriously difficult to interpret, making it especially important to handle with caution. Though it is referred to as a "parable," thanks to the use of shepherding terms, the situation it describes seems to be very real.

Jesus uses two additional parables to illustrate a state of constant readiness for His return after He has gone. His followers should be working for Him while they wait. They must not be like the foolish young women who missed a wedding feast because they forgot oil for their lamps. They must be like the servants who doubled their harsh master's investments while He was away. Jesus concludes with a third descriptive passage, showing how He will judge between the righteous and evil when He returns as King.

Matthew 25 concludes the "Olivet Discourse:" Jesus' teaching to the disciples about future things as they sit on the Mount of Olives. This follows His dire predictions about the Temple and Jerusalem in chapter 24. He gives two more parables to emphasize that they must be prepared for His return. Finally, Jesus describes the moment of His return, after a time of tribulation, when He will judge all who live on earth at the beginning of His kingdom. This leads into Matthew's account of Jesus' Last Supper, betrayal, and arrest in chapter 26.

The Gospel of Matthew clearly shows the influence of its writer's background, and his effort to reach a specific audience. Matthew was one of Jesus' twelve disciples, a Jewish man, and a former tax collector. This profession would have required literacy, and Matthew may have transcribed some of Jesus' words as they were spoken. This book is filled with references to the Old Testament, demonstrating to Israel that Jesus is the Promised One. Matthew also includes many references to coins, likely due to his former profession. Matthew records extensive accounts of Jesus' teaching, more than the other three Gospels.